Nintendo's Switch may be better than a Wii

Nintendo of America's President, Reggie Fils-Aime told Variety that its Switch gizmo could even top first year sales of the Wii – the company’s best selling console yet–if momentum holds up through the holidays.

The Switch is Nintendo’s big bet on a hybrid portable and home game system and it looks like it is paying off, with 10 million Nintendo Switch units sold in nine months.

Strong sales will be important for Nintendo as it tries to convince game publishers to invest in the platform, whose less powerful hardware can’t always handle the same games as Microsoft’s Xbox and Sony’s PlayStation consoles.

While some publishers, such as Capcom and Koei Tecmo, say they’re going all in on Switch, others such as EA have been more hesitant. Perhaps that’s why Fils-Aime pointed to the early success of Nintendo’s games such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Super Mario Odyssey, all of which are owned by more than half of Switch users.

The Switch still has a long way to go, though, if it wants to challenge Nintendo’s best-selling home console, the Wii, which sold more than 100 million units over its lifetime.

Speaking to Variety, Nintendo America president Reggie Fils-Aime said it was possible the Switch would beat first year sales of the Wii, but only if it continues to sell well through the holiday season.